The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have officially announced the appointment of former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan as their new mentor. The news, shared via their official 'X' account, has generated excitement among fans in anticipation of the upcoming IPL 2025 season, where the expertise of the 2011 World Cup champion will be a tremendous asset.
LSG's announcement triggered significant discussion among cricket enthusiasts, showcasing Zaheer Khan's impactful legacy in Indian cricket. Celebrated for his stellar performances during the 2011 ODI World Cup, where India ended a 28-year title drought, he is regarded as one of the sport's all-time great bowlers.
The LSG post included images of four prominent left-handed batsmen—Andrew Strauss, Matthew Hayden, Kumar Sangakkara, and Graeme Smith—who have faced challenges against Zaheer Khan in past matches, a situation known in cricket circles as being a 'bunny.'
With an impressive IPL history, Zaheer has previously played for teams such as Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Bengaluru), Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) during his nine-year career. After retiring from IPL following the 2017 season, he served as the director of cricket for Mumbai Indians before later becoming the head of global development until 2022.
Throughout his IPL journey, which encompassed 100 matches, Zaheer took 102 wickets, boasting an average of 27.27 and an economy rate of 7.59. While with the Mumbai Indians, the franchise clinched two consecutive IPL titles in 2019 and 2020.
Zaheer Khan steps into the mentorship role following Gautam Gambhir, who moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders before the 2024 season, where he celebrated his first IPL championship as a mentor.